THE ESSENTIALS

MAKE: ROLEX
MODEL: 18038
YEAR: 1987
CASE DIAMETER: 36MM
CASE MATERIAL: 18K YELLOW GOLD
BRACELET MATERIAL: LEATHER
MOVEMENT: AUTOMATIC

The Day-Date 180xx series represents the second execution of the model, featuring the updated calibre 3055 movement and marking the first Day-Date to include a quick-set date function. This small yet significant upgrade makes the watch far easier to adjust when worn sparingly within a collection.

The present example comes from the final stretch of 180xx production in 1987. It features a very rare matte black dial, giving the watch a striking appearance compared to the more common champagne or silver variants. The tritium lume plots are all intact and have aged to a beautifully creamy tone, complemented by the cream day and date wheels. There are minor scratches on the hour markers.